The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD), in partnership with the Hideo Sasaki Foundation, is offering Health Promotion Mini-Grants for 2025. These grants aim to support initiatives that promote healthy eating and physical activity within Cambridge, Massachusetts. The funding is administered through a competitive selection process involving representatives from the Cambridge Food and Fitness Policy Council, Cambridge Public Schools, and other city agencies.

The mini-grants are designed to facilitate projects that encourage sustainable healthy behaviors by either creating new initiatives or expanding existing ones. The primary goal is to make healthy choices more accessible for Cambridge residents, students, and workers. Organizations such as Cambridge-based businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, schools, and universities are eligible to apply, provided they serve Cambridge’s population. Individual applicants are not eligible, and all applicants must have a registered nonprofit fiscal agent.

Up to ten grants of $1,000 each will be awarded to selected applicants. Organizations may submit multiple applications as long as each proposal represents a distinct project and is submitted by different staff members. Projects must be completed by October 31, 2025, with interim updates required by September 19, 2025, and a final summary report with photos due by November 14, 2025. Recipients must also participate in evaluation surveys.

Selection criteria include the project's alignment with promoting healthy eating and/or physical activity, proposal quality, evidence of community collaboration, sustainability potential, and the likelihood of securing additional funding. Organizations that have received funding in previous years can reapply if they propose a new project or, for up to three consecutive years, if they demonstrate new ways to build upon past projects. Collaborative applications involving multiple organizations with related projects are encouraged and require letters of commitment or a Memorandum of Understanding.

Potential project examples include initiatives to improve food choices in workplace or program settings, farming or gardening collaborations, activity breaks in schools or workplaces, food rescue programs, and projects encouraging walking, biking, or recreation. The CPHD offers technical assistance to applicants who request support in planning their activities.

Applications must be submitted through a Google form available on the CPHD website. The deadline for submission is April 4, 2025. For further inquiries, applicants can contact Brigitte DeVeau at bdeveau@cambridgepublichealth.org.